This post is a word of warning ... the strength of it will be dragged down pretty good if preseason conference predictions play out:
Mount St. Mary's (Northeast Conference), USC Upstate (Big South Conference) and Loyola Maryland (Patriot League) were all picked to finish last in their official preseason conference polls. Maine (Northeast Conference), St. Peter's (MAAC), Maryland Eastern-Shore (MEAC) and Western Carolina were all picked to finish next-to-last in their respective conferences. UNC Asheville was not much better, picked to finish eighth out of 11 teams in the Big South.
That's eight of the 13 non-conference games against teams that are going to be very lowly-rated in the newly formed "NET" ratings.
The other five are Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Penn State, Auburn and Mercer. Mercer was picked fifth in the Southern Conference. Auburn was third in the SEC and Vanderbilt 8th. B1G did not do a preseason poll to see where Penn State and Wisconsin were. Pack should also get bonus points for Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and Penn State being away from home.
Mount St. Mary's (Northeast Conference), USC Upstate (Big South Conference) and Loyola Maryland (Patriot League) were all picked to finish last in their official preseason conference polls. Maine (Northeast Conference), St. Peter's (MAAC), Maryland Eastern-Shore (MEAC) and Western Carolina were all picked to finish next-to-last in their respective conferences. UNC Asheville was not much better, picked to finish eighth out of 11 teams in the Big South.
That's eight of the 13 non-conference games against teams that are going to be very lowly-rated in the newly formed "NET" ratings.
The other five are Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Penn State, Auburn and Mercer. Mercer was picked fifth in the Southern Conference. Auburn was third in the SEC and Vanderbilt 8th. B1G did not do a preseason poll to see where Penn State and Wisconsin were. Pack should also get bonus points for Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and Penn State being away from home.
